The Washington critic., 1887-12-24
Mary ]. Holmes Views on an Inter
cSting Question.
SOME GOOD PRACTICAL ADVICE,
a Fcstni Day That Should be Made
as Joyous rs Possible for All.

sitting down TO write, anG took my
thoughts across the eastern waters to
the little town of Bethlehem where
! 800 years ago "tho hopes and foars .,
all the years" which had gone before
met in grand certainty, the fullness of
which was not known oven to the
mother herself as sho bent over her
newborn child; nor yet to the wonder
ing shepherds who heard the first Christ.
mas song rs it iloated over the hills and
plains of Judca. =.
peace on earth, good will TO men,"
the angels sang, and the words have
come cchoing down 10 us through all the
years since the stars shone on
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS EVE
and Bethlehem baskcd in the first sun
light OF Saviour born in her midst.
"Peacc on earth, good will TO men" We
repeat over and over again, as often as
the day comes round, and now when the
Christmas of 1887 is here, and We can
almost see that humble home in Na2a-
reth, where preparations were making
for the journey up to Jerusalem, and
the children can quite hear the tinlding
bells of Santa Claus turnout, il seems
right to ask how Christmas shall be
kept and if it has not deeper mean
ing than merely time for gay fcstivity
ut home and costly gifts TO those
who neither need nor care for them.
The first Christmas presents ever made
were brought to Christ. Gold, franklin
ccnse and myrrh the wise men laid ut
His feet--tho richest and best they had
and this we, too, should do, learning II
lesson from the little boy who, when
asked if he knew what Christmas meant,
answered promptly; eyes, SIR. 1t is
Jesus donation party"
In one sense it is Chrst's donation
party, and He expects His larders to be
filled according as our own are overflow
ing. 1t is true He is not now here in
person, but He has left us His poor,
whom we have with us always and to
whom whensoever we will we can do
good. And what better time than when
we keep His birthday. Let the Christ
mas fires be kindled in all the happy
homes where want is unknown. Make
THE FEsTAL DAY
MS bright and joyous as you can, and
give as many presents as You please,
provided you keep back something, and
big something, too, for the poor, and
especially the children. In my own
village of not more than 5000 inhabi
tants, where extreme poverty is an cx'
ception, ! know of dreary homes where
when work is scarce, as il often is here
in the winter, little ragged, barefoot
children shiver around scaniy fire il
rooms whose only furniture is Il rusty
stove, a table, two or three broker
chairs and n cradle-for baby is Away
there = pinched and hungry-looking
with an expression ON its fac,
far different from that whicl
Bethlehem's baby wore, when cradle,
in stall. The only plaything
which many of these children have i
some broken toy, or bit of shinglc, o
corncob, tied with cotton string, an,
answering the double purpose of II car
for the boy and doll for the little girl
who makes the metamorphosis by wraI
ping around it piece of faded calico.
If such is the condition in so small
place how much worse must il be in th
larger towns, where intempcrarce an
vice hold high carnival and their gaui
offspring, poverty, stretches ont hC
hand for help. And shall we shut on
eyes and stop our ears TO the appeal
Isn't there
from our abundance for the old woma
shivering in the damp basement roun
the corner? Suppose she is cross and dis;
greeable, and grumbles at what we Civ
her, should we be much better if, lik
her, we had outlivcd every Joy in Iii
and seen all our ships go down, lcavin
MS stranded and alone, with nothing I
depend upon but the charity of o,
neighbors, and nothing to look forwar
to but the poor-house? Have VIC notl
ing either for the destitute family q
the next block, where half a dozen chi
dren are huddled together with lit
TO eat and less to wear? Suppo
the father and mother n
incorporate and thriftless, ii
children are not to blame, m
1t is of the children / am always thin
ing when Christmas comes round, NJ
the little boy OF Bethlehem seems to
pleading for them. We do not kno
that when a child He was ever hung
or cold. Probably not; but His woi
was among the poor, whom, when /
went away, He left in our care, and v
must not betray the trust. In many /
stances it costs but little to relieve III
make them happy. An apple, an orane
q penny, and often kind word W
change the expression of the harde
face to the happy look which childlot
ought to wear.
AROUND THE sHow-wINDows.
Did YOU ever see group of ragg
girls and boys gathered around sor
show window, georgeously dccorat
with Christmas toys? With what Gag,
longing eyes they look at them, dcs
mating this or that as the one they won
prefer, and reaching out their hands,
If just to touch the glass which separai
them from the coveted treasures W
better than nothing. And did You everb
some of these toys and distribute amo
them? If not, do so, and watch t
sudden lighting up Of the little fac
with n look of surprise and Joy III
heaven had come down in the shape
tin horn or whistle.
"Horid, dirty little wretche;
some dainty young miss exclams,
she brushes past them. ''l'm alwa
afraid they'll steal my purse before !
very eyes"
OF course, they are dirty lit
wretches, How can they be otherwi
brought up in attics and cellars, vi
only blows at home and angry won
and looks in the street, And, OF cour
they'll steal; they have never be
taught any better. But for once ia
from them the desire 10 do so by giyi
them a few Of the Christmas toys tn
are longing for. And if they are hung
feed them and cover their little red +,
and legs with warm stockings and sho
This will not cost half MS much as Y
spend every year for gloves and bonne